Tropical Storm Irene

Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Joe Courtney are urging state regulators to reject most of a request by Connecticut Light & Power Co. to charge customers $414 million for costs related to five destructive storms over the past two years.
According to CL&P, preparation and response to the storms was very expensive.

A Connecticut commuters’ group wants Metro-North Railroad to make good on prepaid fares they couldn’t use due to service cancellations, following numerous storms that knocked out rail service to and from New York City.

The five-year “System Resiliency Plan” proposed by Connecticut Light & Power focuses on three initiatives: tree trimming, use of coated thicker-gauge wire, and strengthening utility poles, cross-arms and other equipment.

Several shoreline communities in Connecticut took a big hit from superstorm Sandy and Gov. Dan Malloy says that, to date, the financial tally is about $360 million. But that is likely to rise significantly.

The Rockland County village of Sloatsburg, like most of the Tri-State Area, was not spared the damaging force of Tropical Storm Irene one year ago. But you won’t catch its residents complaining about it.

State Senator Kip Bateman from Somerville said when drivers don’t follow the road closure signs, they put themselves and first responders at risk, while also diverting attention from the main incident. The bill sponsored by Bateman would increase the fine from $100 to $250 and may require drivers to pay for the cost of their rescue.